Involuntary Saga

by Rebershekk

When Scott and Virgil are broken, Alan's left crippled by guilt, Gordon's finally out of his depth, and John's left to spiral out of control. Injuries, dark themes and language in later parts. - Made of many small chapters so not actually as huge as it seems I promise.

35. Loyalties

Gordon and John had been almost hostile towards each other since the elder returned, and while she could understand it, Gordon was convinced John was hiding something, given his attitude of late, but it still seemed a little much. Gordon was pushing and picking for something, this supposed secret plan John had or something—at least, that was what she'd been able to pick up from the argument before it descended into a fight, which she had had to break up. John, while perfectly capable of holding his own in a fight against most, never really stood much of a chance against his brothers, who were better trained, stronger and had the advantage of being used to gravity. On top of that, Gordon, like Scott, had the advantage of military training, so John was left with a black eye and swollen lip to which Kayo was currently playing nurse for.

He sucked in a breath as she dabbed at the split lip, apologising softly. Exactly what had caused the fight she had stumbled upon, she had no idea, but to result in blood she very much doubted John was Innocent. They were brothers, they fought sometimes, and always would, but it never went this far unless there was something serious at the root, and while Gordon could be volatile, he would always pick burning the anger off in the water over hitting someone. She had pulled them apart, almost receiving an accidental elbow to the face in the process, pointing out that this was the last thing their grandmother needed right then. Gordon muttered something she missed, while John, instantly defensive, accused him of the being the cause of the whole thing. A still-riled Gordon bit at the accusation, there was shouting she couldn't quite follow, and a second round almost started right there and then.

By no small miracle, she managed to talk them down and Gordon stormed off, fuming, presumably for the pool, and she dragged John away to clean up and while she had tried to work out what started the whole thing, he refused to say exactly. Eventually he pushed her hands away, running a hand through his hair and announcing he was going to change and then see his brothers. When she questioned if this was the right thing to do, he looked at her, smiling sadly. 'I've run out of time,' he said, and walked away.